ODB: Talk Low, Talk Slow
March 29, 2011
Bite your tongue before your tongue bites others.
READ: Judges 7:24–8:3
A soft answer turns away wrath. —Proverbs 15:1
John Wayne, famous American actor and film icon, once said, “Talk low, talk slow, and don’t say too much.” His advice is hard for me to follow since I’m a fast talker and I don’t always speak quietly or limit my words. However, this idea of controlling our speech can be a useful tool when dealing with anger. The Bible says we are supposed to be “slow to speak” (James 1:19), and that “a soft answer turns away wrath” (Prov. 15:1).
Gideon gave a soft answer during a verbal scuffle with some fellow Israelites (Judg. 8). Just after his army defeated the Midianites, a group of his countrymen criticized him sharply (v.1). They were miffed because they missed out on the main part of the battle. Gideon did not fling back a rough response. Instead, he reminded them that they had captured and killed the Midianite princes. He also honored the men by asking, “What was I able to do in comparison with you?” Finally, “their anger toward him subsided when he said that” (v.3).
With the Lord’s help, we can defuse heated situations by reining in our words. Responding gently and carefully to angry people can promote unity, for God’s glory.
— Jennifer Benson Schuldt
Source: Our Daily Bread
Tweet This
Share on Facebook
Digg This
Save to delicious
Stumble it
RSS FeedRelated
ODJ: Beyond The Standards
May 8, 2012 But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven! (v.20). READ: Matthew 5:20-48 In 1957 a remarkable story written by Colonel William Draper appeared in a magazine. The article was published under the [...]
ODJ: Unaware
March 25, 2012 Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honourable (v.17). READ: Romans 12:14-21 Chuck Colson tells the story of Ron Greer, an ex-convict who was rehabilitated through Colson’s Prison Fellowship ministry. Greer, who became a church leader after serving his [...]
ODJ: what follows…
June 27, 2011 If another believer sins, rebuke that person; then if there is repentance, forgive (v.3). READ: Luke 17:1-10 Someone close to me (and to those I love) recently made some poor decisions that affected us all, and what followed wasn’t pretty. Pain. Grief. Suffering. Those words capture the essence of the bitter sting brought [...]
ODB: Tone Check
October 1, 2011 READ: Colossians 4:2-6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. —Colossians 4:6 Driving home from work, I heard a radio advertisement that got my attention. It was for a computer program that checks e-mails as they are written. [...]
Christian Courses
Day Of Discovery
Discover The Word
Discovery Series
Help For My Life
My Utmost For His Highest
Our Daily Bread
Our Daily Journey
RBC Ministries
WarungSateKaMu
Manasociety
雅米
when i checked this website,it is somehow god really telling me it is good to be silent when people is angry to me.i had such hard time yesterday. It was a busy day for me,there one of colleague scold me,Im a short temper person.im only shut my mouth cuz i cant think any word to fight her back. Then i blamed myself because im felt defeated.wat i found out is the present of the holy spirit who control anger.praise the lord!!
Blessed are those who can control their tongues
It’s really important to watch our words. We can either make things better or worse by the words we speak.
There is a saying i remember it goes, “our tongues are sharper that a sword”